JACKSON, Tenn. | Picking up a critical win on the road in conference play, the University of Alabama in Huntsville men’s basketball team defeated host Union 63-55 on Thursday night. The Chargers improve to 9-7 (5-4 GSC) with the victory, while Union slips to 8-7 (4-5 GSC).

The win marks the first away from Spragins Hall since a victory at North Alabama late last season.

The Chargers started strong in the first half, pushing out to a 12-7 lead, but the remainder of period would be tight and featured seven ties and four lead changes with Union taking a slim 27-25 lead into the locker room at the half.

Trailing 41-38 with under 12 minutes to play, UAH went on a strong 19-6 run over the next seven minutes to establish a 57-47 lead with five minutes left in the contest, and the run was punctuated by a string of six straight points that had a Conner Blasi layup bookended by a pair of Ronnie Mack baskets.

The hosts would cut into the deficit, pulling as close as six at the 1:25 mark, but Taylor Chapman turned in a strong final minute as he grabbed a pair of defensive rebounds and buried four free throws as part of his 12 points on the night to help UAH seal the victory.

Three players joined Chapman in double figures, led by Wayne Dedrick’s 15, while Seab Webster and Conner Blasi both added 10. Blasi finished with a double-double as he grabbed a game-best 10 rebound, and Greg Gardner was also strong as he hit three 3s to score nine while dishing out five assists.

After shooting just 31.3 percent in the first half, UAH used a 53.8 percent performance from the field in the second stanza to finish the night shooting 41.8 percent while holding Union to a 37.5 percent showing, and the Chargers also won the rebounding battle by a 40-32 edge.

Ten of UAH’s rebounds were on the offensive end, and the team converted them into 11 second chance points while giving up just six offensive boards to Union who was able to only score three second chance points.

UAH will now aim to earn another road win when the Chargers travel to North Alabama on Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m. in Florence.